THE PIN-UP

The photo of Farrah Fawcett in her red swimsuit first appeared in Life magazine in 1976 as an image that defined a decade. The poster soon found a home on the walls of teenage boys' bedrooms, making Fawcett the most popular pin-up of our time, with 12 million copies sold.

ON A ROLL

America's love affair with Fawcett began after she landed a role in producer Aaron Spelling's hit crime series Charlie's Angels. Though she only played Jill Munroe regularly for the premiere season, from 1976-77, it was enough to solidify her status as the breakout star of the show.

SITTING PRETTY

Voted "Beautiful Woman" by her high school classmates in Corpus Christi, Texas, the Southern blonde also captured Hollywood's attention with her signature tresses and mega-watt smile. She became the face of Wella Balsam shampoo and Ultra-Brite toothpaste.

COVER GIRL

It was a very merry Christmas for many men as Fawcett graced the December 1978 cover of Playboy. At 50, she did it again, landing on the cover of the December 1995 issue of Playboy – making it one of the best-selling issues of the magazine with more than 4 million copies sold worldwide.

RISING STAR

In 1975, the then-aspiring actress went on to prove she wasn't just another pretty face. Throughout the '80s and '90s, Fawcett tackled gritty roles in both television and film, including critically praised performances in The Burning Bed and The Apostle.